The Highlands Performing Arts Center is starting the 2023 Concert Season early this year thanks to the unique opportunity to bring in a world-renowned dance company.
The first concert of the PAC’s season will be on Friday, March 24 with Rhythm of the Dance – the National Dance Company of Ireland. Featuring world class musicians who play live on stage, star vocalists, and world champion dancers, the show is a captivating experience of pulsating rhythms performed at lightning speed.
“We have been in contact with Rhythm of the Dance for several years, but there was always a concern that our previous theater wasn’t big enough to accommodate their performance,” Highlands PAC Executive Director Mary Adair Trumbly said. “Now that our new facility is open, those concerns have been alleviated, and we are excited to have them open our 2023 season.”
Bluegrass legends the Steep Canyon Rangers will take the stage in Highlands on Sunday, May 14.
The Steep Canyon Rangers are Asheville’s Grammy winners, perennial Billboard chart-toppers, and frequent collaborators of the renowned banjoist (and comedian) Steve Martin. The Grammy-Nominated North Carolina Songbook is a recording of their live 2019 performance at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, in which they performed a selection of songs by North Carolina songwriters.
Their most recent release of all original music, Arm In Arm came out in October of 2020. Every song on Arm in Arm captures the North Carolina group’s innovative spirit, weaving in jazz, gospel, folk, and even rock phrases, creating an intimate and intricate sound that challenges, cajoles, and comforts.
“Steep Canyon Rangers are another act we have been pursuing for a long time and this year it finally worked out on Mother’s Day,” Trumbly said. “It’s going to be a 4 p.m. show, so it’s perfect to take mom to lunch and then come to the concert, or come to the show and then go out for dinner.”
On Sunday, June 11, the ever-popular Empire Trio will be back in Highlands to perform an array of pop hits and Broadway classics.
Empire Trio was formed in 2012 when three musicians came to live in New York City to pursue their dreams of becoming world class performing musicians. The group quickly established themselves as a musical force, selling out major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Redlands Bowl, CA, and over 350 other venues all over the United States, Canada, and the UK.
The PAC’s July show will feature acclaimed soprano Jenene on Sunday, July 16. A true crossover entertainer, Jenene is as adept at belting a Celine Dion or Whitney Houston song as she is performing an aria or captivating audiences with Broadway show tunes. Jenene has shared a stage with Chicago, opened for the Beach Boys, kicked off Major League Baseball games with the national anthem, and performed for celebrities and world leaders.
Comedian Kelly Swanson will bring her show “Who Hijacked My Fairytale” on Saturday, Aug. 26. Swanson is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, and cast member of The Fashion Hero television show airing on Amazon Prime. Swanson’s wacky wit and powerful stories have charmed hearts and tickled funny bones for over 15 years.
One week later, The Hit Men will rock out on the PAC stage on Saturday, Sept. 2. In this ultimate rock concert, The Hit Men celebrate their associations with music’s mega-stars, share their first-hand experiences as eyewitnesses to rock history, and perform classic hits you know and love… “Layla,” “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Eye in the Sky,” and many more.
On Friday, Sept. 22 the PAC will welcome ARTRAGEOUS – a troupe of multi-talented Live performance artists, world-class singers, and recording artists, highly trained dancers, and veteran musicians hailing from the high desert of New Mexico. Their high energy performance is a combination of all the arts on one stage, combined with humor and interaction in a frenzy of movement and color.
The Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, brings The Fortunate Sons, a tribute to the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. From the soaring, gritty vocals to the swampy, bluesy guitar riffs to the tight, workmanlike rhythm section, the show features the attention to detail and professionalism that the group has become known for. The incredible catalog of Creedence Clearwater Revival has stood the test of time and multiple generations.
With an action-packed season on the horizon, Trumbly added that it’s the perfect time to become a PAC Member or renew a membership. Log on to www.HighlandsPerformingArts.com to check out the membership benefits or buy tickets to upcoming shows.